George at the Fort; Or, Life Among the Soldiers

"George at the Fort; Or, Life Among the Soldiers" by Harry Castlemon is a novel written in the late 19th century. This work focuses on the experiences of the main character, Bob Owens, a young recruit in the United States cavalry, as he navigates the challenges and camaraderie of military life at Fort Lamoine, especially amidst discontent among the ranks. The narrative explores themes of bravery, duty, and the harsh realities of soldiering during this turbulent period in American history. The opening portion introduces us to Colonel Brown, the commanding officer at Fort Lamoine, who expresses concern over a rising number of deserters from his post. Bob Owens, who has recently joined the cavalry after enlisting under difficult circumstances, is appointed to lead a squad in pursuit of the deserters. As Bob comes to grips with military life, he finds himself wrestling with the decisions of his fellow recruits, dealing with camaraderie and conflict, and making his own moral stand against desertion. This initial chapter sets the stage for a story steeped in adventure and personal growth as Bob learns what it means to serve both his country and his comrades. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Austin Fosdick, better known by his nom de plume Harry Castlemon, was a prolific writer of juvenile stories and novels, intended mainly for boys. He was born in Randolph, New York, and received a high school diploma from Central High School in Buffalo, New York. He served in the Union Navy from 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, acting as the receiver and superintendent of coal for the Mississippi River Squadron. Fosdick had begun to write as a teenager, and drew on his experiences serving in the Navy in such early novels as Frank on a Gunboat (1864) and Frank on the Lower Mississippi (1867). He soon became the most-read author for boys in the post-Civil War era, the golden age of children's literature.